January 1, 2009 No.18
Happy new year!! This is Dragon. I wish this year will be a wonderful year for everyone.
A new year has started today. Many people in Japan visit shrines to pay homage for a new year on a new year's day. It is called "Hatsumoude".
D: Dragon,
G: the guardian diety/Kamisama
D: Kamisama, Happy New Year! I appreciate your support for this year as well.
G: Me too, thank you.
D: I have a question on a new year's day.
G: Please, you don't need to hesitate.
D: Thank you very much. So, today many people are visiting shrines all over Japan for Hatsumoude, would you please tell me what is the good way for this??
G: Oh, of course. I love to tell you the manner. Then, I will explain from walking through Torii gate.
D: Oh, yes! Do we need to pay attentions when we pass a Torii gate?
G: Not really attention, rather more respect. It is important to pay respect to gods.
D: Indeed. (If there are gods or not, etiquette is our culture...)
G: Exactly, etiquette is a beautiful culture that man created.
D: Ha!?? You read my mind? Yes, it is so...,then what do we need to do at the gate?
G: Please make a bow first. Then say a greeting in your mind like 'please excuse me to enter'. When you leave, you do the same. In general, Torii gate is like an entrance of other world which is different from human world.
D: Ops, I haven't done this before. Then,the next step is washing my hands with pure water or ??
G: No, before that, you walk on the main path to the shrine. I would like to ask you to do this, not like paying attention though.
D: What is it? Pick up a trash if you see it?
G: That is a good manner. That is good, but simply, please do not walk on the middle of the path.
D: Don't walk on the middle? why ?
G: Please consider this as etiquette, but the middle part of the path is where gods walk. So it is important for man to respect it.
D: With modest attitude.
G: Exactly. A person who is modest towards man and gods can cultivate his soul. But Hatsumoude is very busy, so it may be impossible.
D: Yes I understand. What is next?
G: The next step is cleansing hands with pure water. It may be too cold in winter but make sure your hands are washed. Do you know the proper order?
D: What is the proper order for that?
G: First. Hold a wooden ladle by your right hand and wash your left hand, and then wash your right hand. If water is clean, rinse your mouth. This is the best way.
D: If water is dirty??
G: You don't need to rinse your mouth. Then turn the ladle upward and dry it and return to where it was.
D: Good learning! And next?
G: Next is how to pray. In general, first, you make two deep bows, clap your hands twice and make a deep bow again. Then you join your hands together and pray.
D: Hmm... making bows, clapping hands, should we do this?
G: Yes, as much as possible. Dragon, remember, when you visit a shrine to pay homage for the new year, it is important to make gods pleased.
D: Ah? Make gods pleased by man?
G: Ha, ha, ha, surprised? Gods were humans before. And Dragon, you too, if someone greeted you in a proper manner, you will be pleased.
D: Ah, indeed! Certainly!
G: Two bows, Two clapping hands and one bow. If you do this seriously, not embarrassed, gods will have good impression of you. Especially when you clap hands, make big sound. Clapping hands will have effect of cleansing of the space.
D: Sorry , it is the first time to hear. I didn't know...
G: Yes, but this custom is different among shrines. If you don't know the proper manner, please ask them.
D: Yes. How about amount of offering money?
G: Ha, ha, ha. This is from your heart. The amount of money doesn't matter. It is depend on your budget.
D: I am relieved. How about an oracle paper? Is it a good thing to do?
G: Either way is fine. Its only your choice, but remember that oracle papers have always something to tell you, so you must read very carefully. If the message catches your heart, take it and post on your fridge.
D: I see. I have always bound on a branch.
G: Either way is okay. As long as it helps man, gods are happy.
D: Okay. Also one more thing. My wishes. I have ten times more than the others.
G: Great,if all of your wishes were for other people's happiness.
D: Wishes for others?
G: Dragon, just imagine a good person you like and apply it on him. Do you think a person who thinks only himself will be liked by others?
D: Hmmm, that is correct. Ego centrism isn't really cool.
G: Of course, you can pray for yourself, but that should be at last. Remember that the first thing is to pray for your friends and family. Pray for their health and happiness from your heart. But before that, you have to express your gratitude for god's grace.
D: What? Thanking the gods first?
G: Yes. First, repeat your gratitude (Okagesamade) three times. That will make gods happy and then, pray for gods happiness as well.
D: Pardon? Gods' happiness?
G: Yes. I want you to think gods as men.
D: Indeed. Well, certainly it may be so. Okay, I will pray for gods' happiness as well. Also, I will express my gratitude, too. Then others' happiness and after all asking something for me.
G: That is perfect. Make sure that gods are happy. Make it as your priority and express your gratitude. In the end, gods will be pleased to help you.
D: I understand! Let's go! Ah, one more thing? Can I visit many places?
G: Of course you can, but you need to choose shrines that you feel good about.
D: I understand! Thank you very much!
G: Be careful and enjoy.
(Translated by Tomo-san. Thank you, Tomo-san!)
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Reasons Why We Were Born (No.5)
December 31, 2008 No.17
Today is New Year ’s Eve. We will write the last entry with our wish to express our gratitude to everyone for having spent this year safely.
Last time, Kamisama told us that all men have one common mission. The hint to the answer is…
D: The hint is…. Existence, isn’t it?
G: Indeed! In other words?
D: In other words… recognize the existence….
G: Yes, recognize and?
D: Hmm……
G: Man tends to think everything is so difficult, but the answer is very simple.
D: In other words? Is it good just to be?
G: Yes, indeed!
D: Ah~~~! Isn’t it too simple?
G: No, it is right. Remember Dragon, the mission of man is to praise life, and to be completely alive. There is nothing more important than that.”
D: Ah… That makes me relax…
God: You feel relieved because it is true. Man may have many goals in life, one is to ponder the meaning of life as you say, and it is his pleasure and a wonderful work to look for it. Therefore, the god never deprives man of it. However, to put it strongly, it is ok for man to neither have goals nor search for the meaning of life.
D: Ah? no goals, nor meaning are necessary?
G: So, it doesn’t matter if you have no goals and are not searching for the meaning of life. When we die, that is the goal. In other words, it is also the starting point. After a person dies, he is likely to understand for the first time the meaning of his life.
D: After man dies, he understands the meaning of life? Is that the real case? If so, I feel much better.
G: Easy, easy. Dragon, take it easy. There is a word “Ki Do Ai Raku” (Joy, Madness, Sorrow, Pleasure) To praise life means to taste these emotions really well. Experience pleasure, anger, sorrow, and anger in the now and firmly. 'Praise life and live completely', and I think it isn’t too difficult to do. What do you think?
D: Hmm, I don’t think it is difficult, however, it becomes shameful or regretful after all when anger is expressed. The necessary work is to admit what has happened, isn’t it? It might be a difficult thing to do.
D: Dragon, that is right. Accept yourself and, consequently, admit your existence and love yourself. This work becomes important. It is easy and difficult. This is the biggest mission, and you can see the goal and the meaning naturally if you consider it.
D: Indeed…. It may be so. By the way, the word ‘Iki kiru (Live completely)’ is a great word. Not only live, but ‘Ikiru (live)’ and ‘Kiru (cut=finish=complete), ‘Live completely’.
G: Good point you noticed. Not only ‘Ikiru (Live)’, live life with all your strength until the end. ‘Live completely’.
D: Yes…. I think I understand. Therefore, suicide is bad…..
G: By the way, Dragon, ‘mission’ is written as ‘how is life used’ (in Chinese characters), isn’t it?
D: Usage of life? Ah, certainly.
G: So, I want you to appreciate life to the last drop, completely. It is man's 'Mission'.
D: Ah…. It is so…. That is what it means…. Somehow I am moved. Thank you very much… then it is good if we live to the utmost. Is this right?
G: Indeed. Every life is worthy. It does not matter what kind of goals man decides on or what kind of results he ends up with, there is no problem. Even if what meaning man give, and man ends up in what situation.
D: But to cultivate and purify the soul is important, isn’t it?
G: Of course! Thank you for remembering. However, the soul cannot exist without its existence.
D: Indeed….that is why man is born. I understand. To praise life, and to live completely, that is the reason we are born.
G: Yes, it is. Thank you for understanding, Dragon. Have a Happy New Year!
D: I will, I have to say thank you always. A Happy New Year!
End.
How should I say, it was an unthinkable idea that our mission is to praise life and to live completely… However, if it is really so, I think that the load on my shoulders is gone.
I hope you also celebrate your life by all means, and live to the last minutes, completely. Of course, I think that I will continue setting my goals and define my life while I am enjoying it.
Then, we pray sincerely that the life of everybody is filled with gratitude and love for next year.
Have a great new year! Thank you.
Today is New Year ’s Eve. We will write the last entry with our wish to express our gratitude to everyone for having spent this year safely.
Last time, Kamisama told us that all men have one common mission. The hint to the answer is…
D: The hint is…. Existence, isn’t it?
G: Indeed! In other words?
D: In other words… recognize the existence….
G: Yes, recognize and?
D: Hmm……
G: Man tends to think everything is so difficult, but the answer is very simple.
D: In other words? Is it good just to be?
G: Yes, indeed!
D: Ah~~~! Isn’t it too simple?
G: No, it is right. Remember Dragon, the mission of man is to praise life, and to be completely alive. There is nothing more important than that.”
D: Ah… That makes me relax…
God: You feel relieved because it is true. Man may have many goals in life, one is to ponder the meaning of life as you say, and it is his pleasure and a wonderful work to look for it. Therefore, the god never deprives man of it. However, to put it strongly, it is ok for man to neither have goals nor search for the meaning of life.
D: Ah? no goals, nor meaning are necessary?
G: So, it doesn’t matter if you have no goals and are not searching for the meaning of life. When we die, that is the goal. In other words, it is also the starting point. After a person dies, he is likely to understand for the first time the meaning of his life.
D: After man dies, he understands the meaning of life? Is that the real case? If so, I feel much better.
G: Easy, easy. Dragon, take it easy. There is a word “Ki Do Ai Raku” (Joy, Madness, Sorrow, Pleasure) To praise life means to taste these emotions really well. Experience pleasure, anger, sorrow, and anger in the now and firmly. 'Praise life and live completely', and I think it isn’t too difficult to do. What do you think?
D: Hmm, I don’t think it is difficult, however, it becomes shameful or regretful after all when anger is expressed. The necessary work is to admit what has happened, isn’t it? It might be a difficult thing to do.
D: Dragon, that is right. Accept yourself and, consequently, admit your existence and love yourself. This work becomes important. It is easy and difficult. This is the biggest mission, and you can see the goal and the meaning naturally if you consider it.
D: Indeed…. It may be so. By the way, the word ‘Iki kiru (Live completely)’ is a great word. Not only live, but ‘Ikiru (live)’ and ‘Kiru (cut=finish=complete), ‘Live completely’.
G: Good point you noticed. Not only ‘Ikiru (Live)’, live life with all your strength until the end. ‘Live completely’.
D: Yes…. I think I understand. Therefore, suicide is bad…..
G: By the way, Dragon, ‘mission’ is written as ‘how is life used’ (in Chinese characters), isn’t it?
D: Usage of life? Ah, certainly.
G: So, I want you to appreciate life to the last drop, completely. It is man's 'Mission'.
D: Ah…. It is so…. That is what it means…. Somehow I am moved. Thank you very much… then it is good if we live to the utmost. Is this right?
G: Indeed. Every life is worthy. It does not matter what kind of goals man decides on or what kind of results he ends up with, there is no problem. Even if what meaning man give, and man ends up in what situation.
D: But to cultivate and purify the soul is important, isn’t it?
G: Of course! Thank you for remembering. However, the soul cannot exist without its existence.
D: Indeed….that is why man is born. I understand. To praise life, and to live completely, that is the reason we are born.
G: Yes, it is. Thank you for understanding, Dragon. Have a Happy New Year!
D: I will, I have to say thank you always. A Happy New Year!
End.
How should I say, it was an unthinkable idea that our mission is to praise life and to live completely… However, if it is really so, I think that the load on my shoulders is gone.
I hope you also celebrate your life by all means, and live to the last minutes, completely. Of course, I think that I will continue setting my goals and define my life while I am enjoying it.
Then, we pray sincerely that the life of everybody is filled with gratitude and love for next year.
Have a great new year! Thank you.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Reasons Why We Were Born (No.4)
December 30, 2008 #16
To cultivate the soul = To express gratitude
To purify the soul = To love
Kamisama taught me the above definitions, then I asked a rude question : does the gods ask for a return favor? Then Kamisama said that there is 'a return favor'. What is it?
G: I told you about the ‘Great Light’?
D: Yes. It is a place where a soul will go back to?
G: Yes, it is. Man’s soul is a kind of ‘Light’, Dragon.
D: Ah? Is it shining?
G: Yes. It is shining.
D: Mine , too?
G: “Yes, you are light. Everyone is light. However, Dragon, unfortunately, the souls’ lights have become weak recently. Therefore, the great light itself has weakened.
D: Ah? Why? What has happened?
G: I will say it simply, unfortunately worldwide, man’s mind has become wild.
D: Ah---, I am sorry. I am part of that.
G: Simply, we gods want man to regain his soul’s shine. Then, the great light can shine beautifully, too. The great light holds everything.
D: Indeed.
G: So, that is the return favor. By cultivating the soul, and purifying it, will shine man’s light and as a result, the great light will shine also. I want you to cooperate, as well as the people who are reading the blog.
D: I understand. I will make as many efforts as possible to express gratitude and to give love.
G: Thank you. I appreciate it.
D: Ah, excuse me, but there is something that has been weighing on my mind. What is man’s calling (mission)? There are some persons who are born knowing their calling and some who do not. Is this calling a different matter than to cultivate and purity the soul?
G: Yes, they are different.
D: What should I do to get to know what is the mission of my life?
G: The way to find it Dragon?... there is no answer….
D: Ah! really? Well, is it so? When a person dies and becomes a soul and goes back to the light. Then when he is reborn, his knowledge of the god's world and the memory of his past life get forgotten. Is he born without any memory of it all?
G: Indeed. Man comes back without any of the memories.
D: That is hard to understand… If man could remember the experiences and lessons of his past lives, then he wouldn’t need to be confused and search for the answers and he could live with the right answers from the beginning?
G: I understand you might think so. However, the answer has already been told. Dragon, what does man want?
D: Ah, he wants to be confused, wants to worry and wants to suffer, doesn’t he?
G: Yes, in other words, the soul wants to be challenged from ground zero. If man knows the answer from the beginning, his soul would not be excited.
D: Ah, I see, that is why…
G: Yes, because of that reason, man can’t remember. Man lives to search for the answers. However, there is one kind of person who already knows the answers.
D: What kind of person is it?
G: It is a person of action …
D: Action? What kind?
G: Going after what he wants.
D: Hmm…. What he wants to do… Anything is acceptable?
G: Anything is okay…what you want to do. In a word, what the soul desires, that is the answer. Any person who becomes free from the bounds of the common practice in the world, and is doing something about it, look around you, there must be many.
D: I am envious…
G: Of course, it can be said that the person who is acting out his desires has his own hardships to face. However, he changes them into gratitude and love.
D: Ah, I wish I could be like that…
G: You can become like that . Cultivate the soul and purify it, and don’t forget, Dragon, the truth is that man has one mission.
D: Ah! one? All of us have the same mission?
G: Yes. All of us have the same one. Do you want to know?
D: Of course! Ah, it is to cultivate and purity the soul, isn’t it?
G: Yes. However there is a deeper mission. I can say that this is the reason why man is born. Let’s see, Dragon. What do you think?
D: Uh….. No hint?
G: The hint is the usual word.
D: The usual??? Ah!
(Continue. There is a deeper mission than cultivating and purifying the soul. What is it?)
To cultivate the soul = To express gratitude
To purify the soul = To love
Kamisama taught me the above definitions, then I asked a rude question : does the gods ask for a return favor? Then Kamisama said that there is 'a return favor'. What is it?
G: I told you about the ‘Great Light’?
D: Yes. It is a place where a soul will go back to?
G: Yes, it is. Man’s soul is a kind of ‘Light’, Dragon.
D: Ah? Is it shining?
G: Yes. It is shining.
D: Mine , too?
G: “Yes, you are light. Everyone is light. However, Dragon, unfortunately, the souls’ lights have become weak recently. Therefore, the great light itself has weakened.
D: Ah? Why? What has happened?
G: I will say it simply, unfortunately worldwide, man’s mind has become wild.
D: Ah---, I am sorry. I am part of that.
G: Simply, we gods want man to regain his soul’s shine. Then, the great light can shine beautifully, too. The great light holds everything.
D: Indeed.
G: So, that is the return favor. By cultivating the soul, and purifying it, will shine man’s light and as a result, the great light will shine also. I want you to cooperate, as well as the people who are reading the blog.
D: I understand. I will make as many efforts as possible to express gratitude and to give love.
G: Thank you. I appreciate it.
D: Ah, excuse me, but there is something that has been weighing on my mind. What is man’s calling (mission)? There are some persons who are born knowing their calling and some who do not. Is this calling a different matter than to cultivate and purity the soul?
G: Yes, they are different.
D: What should I do to get to know what is the mission of my life?
G: The way to find it Dragon?... there is no answer….
D: Ah! really? Well, is it so? When a person dies and becomes a soul and goes back to the light. Then when he is reborn, his knowledge of the god's world and the memory of his past life get forgotten. Is he born without any memory of it all?
G: Indeed. Man comes back without any of the memories.
D: That is hard to understand… If man could remember the experiences and lessons of his past lives, then he wouldn’t need to be confused and search for the answers and he could live with the right answers from the beginning?
G: I understand you might think so. However, the answer has already been told. Dragon, what does man want?
D: Ah, he wants to be confused, wants to worry and wants to suffer, doesn’t he?
G: Yes, in other words, the soul wants to be challenged from ground zero. If man knows the answer from the beginning, his soul would not be excited.
D: Ah, I see, that is why…
G: Yes, because of that reason, man can’t remember. Man lives to search for the answers. However, there is one kind of person who already knows the answers.
D: What kind of person is it?
G: It is a person of action …
D: Action? What kind?
G: Going after what he wants.
D: Hmm…. What he wants to do… Anything is acceptable?
G: Anything is okay…what you want to do. In a word, what the soul desires, that is the answer. Any person who becomes free from the bounds of the common practice in the world, and is doing something about it, look around you, there must be many.
D: I am envious…
G: Of course, it can be said that the person who is acting out his desires has his own hardships to face. However, he changes them into gratitude and love.
D: Ah, I wish I could be like that…
G: You can become like that . Cultivate the soul and purify it, and don’t forget, Dragon, the truth is that man has one mission.
D: Ah! one? All of us have the same mission?
G: Yes. All of us have the same one. Do you want to know?
D: Of course! Ah, it is to cultivate and purity the soul, isn’t it?
G: Yes. However there is a deeper mission. I can say that this is the reason why man is born. Let’s see, Dragon. What do you think?
D: Uh….. No hint?
G: The hint is the usual word.
D: The usual??? Ah!
(Continue. There is a deeper mission than cultivating and purifying the soul. What is it?)
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